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•feiwJ 


University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


T;H    E 


FLOURISH 


OF      THE 


ANNUAL  SPRING, 

Improved  in  a 

SERMON 

Preached   at    the    THURSDAY    LECTURE 
in  Bofton,  May  3.  1739. 


By  MATHER  BYLES,  D.  D. 

Paftor  of  a  Church  in  BOSTON. 


Jumb.  xvii.  8. — Behold,  the  Rod  of  AARON — budded,  and 
brought  forth  Buds,  and  bloomed  Blo/fims,  and  yielded 
Almonds. 


The  Second  Edition, 

BOSTON,   NEW-ENGLAND: 

Re-Printed   by  THOMAS  and  JOHN  FLEET. 

3t  til?  HEA&T  and  C^QWN  m^Cornhill,  1769, 


r 


(     5 


The  Tlourifh  of  the   Annual  SPRING 


CANTICLES  II.   10— -13. 

— Rife  tip — and  come  away.  For  lo,  the  Winter  is  pqft, 
.the  Rain  is  over  and  gone.  The  Flowers  appear  on  the 
Earth^the  Time  ofthefinging  of  Birds  is  come — fln/£— 
and  come  away. 

F  all  meer  Men  who  have  lived  fmce  the  Fall  of 
Adam,  the  Author  of  this  beautiful  PaiTage  is 
pronounced  the  wifeft,  by  the  GOD  of  Heaven. 
And  of  all  the  Books  which  he  wrote,  this  is 
the  moft  elegant,  fublime  and  devout.  The  three  Books 
which  Solomon  wrote,  are  refembled  to  the  three  divi- 
fions  of  the  Temple  which  he  built  •,  of  which  the  Holy 
of  Holies  is  compared  to  this  admirable  Song.  }&$  Proverbs 
contain  an  excellent  Scheme  of  Morality ;  and  to  this  anfwers 
the  outward  Enclofure,  called  the  Court  of  the  Gentiles.  His 
Ecclefiaftes  contains  the  Difquifitions  of  a  philofophical  and 
religious  Genius  after  true  Happinefs ;  and  the  folemn  Re- 
flections and  pious  Arguments  render  it  a  holy  Place.  But 
this  Divine  Sftttg  is  all  confecrated  Rapture ;  'tis  the  Holy 
cf  Holies  :  It  mu(t  be  approached  with  Reverence  and 
Trembling,  and  it  admits  of  no  unhallowed  Feet  to  tread 
its  awful  RecelTes. 

The  Title  of  the  Book  is,  The  Song  of  Songs  ;  and  it 
vvel!  defei  ves  the  Name,  for  it  is  the  fmeft  poetical  Com- 
pofure  now  extant  in  the  World.  It  is  not  every  where 
over-nice  and  exacl  in  its  Metaphers  and  Allufions ;  but 
they  are  bold  and  grand,  elevated  and  lofty,  all  Fire,  all 
confecrated  Rapture  and  Infpiraiion  ! 

M  The 


on  the  SPRING  of  the  Tear. 


'  Thi  triticks  in  the  Art  of  Poetry  will  prefently  fee 
that  it  is  a  Dramatic  Competition  of  that  kind  to  which 
perhaps  the  Moderns  would  give  the  Name  of  a  Pafloral 
Ofera.  That  it  is  a  'Dramatic  Performance  is  eafily  dif- 
cerned,  inafmuch  as  it  confifts  wholly  of  A&ion,  Dialogue, 
and  Character  :  It  is  a  Perfonal  Reprefeqtation  of  Pafpon 
and  Hiftory,  all  which  are  the  exact  Defer  ipt  ion  and  Cha- 
racler  of  the  Drama.  It  is  an  Opera  ;  it  feems  to  confift 
of  three  Acts  :  The  Numbers  are  of  the  Lyrick  Kind  ; 
and  it  has  in  it  the  evident  Intimations  of  Mufick,  and  a 
Chorus.  And  it  is  a  Pa  floral  •  as  the  Scenes  are  moftly 
laid  in  the  Country,  and  the  Characters  and  Images  are 
principally  rural. 

But  more  than  this,  'tis  3  Divine  Poem.*  It  con- 
tains a  fine  Picture  of  the  Loves  of  CH  i  R  s  T  and  his  Church  : 
He  is  the  heavenly  Bridegroom,  and  (lie  the  beautiful 
Shepherdefs,  that  are  the  principal  Speakers  in  the  Song. 
With  how  much  Admiration  does  the  facred  Spoufe  look 
up  to  the  lovely  JESUS,  and  how  full  of  Paflioa  and  Tranf- 
port  are  her  Expreflions  about  him  !  And  on  the  other 
Hand,  with  what  Tendernefs  and  Delight  does  the  blefTed 
SAVIOUR  overlook  the  Defects  of  his  Church,  and  applaud 
the  Graces  which  he  had  before  lighted  up  in  her  fmiling 
Form  ?  Who  is  fhe  that  looketh  forth  as  the  Morning  ? 
Fair  as  the  Moon,  clear  as  the  Sun,  and  aiyful  as  an 
/irmy  with  Banners  ? 

Among  the  many  fond  and  endearing  Sentences,  my 
Text  is  none  of  the  lead  remarkable.  There  area  thou- 
fand  Beauties  glowing  in  the  Sentiments  and  ExprefTions. 
'Tis  a  Speech  that  well  fuits  with  the  graceful  Lips  of  him, 
who  fpake  fo  as  never  Man  fpake;  that  well  fuits  with  the 
heavenly  Form  of  her,  who  is  the  chofen  Bride  of  JESUS 
CHRIST.  —  O  thou  faireil  among  the  mod  elegant  of  the 
Works  of  GOD  ! 

The  Words  are  a  Defcription  of  the  Spring  of  the 
Year,  in  the  Land  of  Canaan.  Great:  Part  of  it  may  be 
literally  applied  to  our  Spring  :  But  in  fome  Refpecls  it 

varies 

*  I  purport?  avoid  the  valnDifputes  of  late  raifed,  about  the  Cano- 
nicalnefs  of  this  Book.      The    Teftimony  of  the  jewifh  Church 
;:rid  the  Forty-fifth  Pfa'rm  are  a  fufficisnt  YbdrcaUon  of  it,  if  v7c 
:  not  other  abundant  Evidence. 


MEDITATIONS  on  the  SPRING  of  the  Tear.      7 

varies.  The  Winter  there,  as  in  our  Mother-Country, 
ufed  to  be  cloudy  and  rainy,  and  a  (leady  fair  Weather  ufed 
to  (mile  OQ  the  Face  of  the  Spring.  Indeed  it  is  other- 
wife  in  our  inconftant  Climate,  where  we  fee  the  Clouds 
fo  frequently  returning  after  the  Rain. 

Without  going  into  the  myftical  or  prophetical  Way 
of  explaining  thefe  Words,  I  fliall  only  obferve,  That  they 
are  the  Invitation  of  CHRIST  to  his  beloved  Church. 
Every  true  Believer  of  JESUS,  and  Follower  of  the  Lamb,- 
may  apply  theAddrefs  to  himfelf.  He  may  take  up  hisBible,, 
and  fay,  I  hear  the  dear  Words  of  'my  LORD  JESUS,  Arife 
up,  and  come  away.  —  Befure  when  the  Flowers  appear  OQ 
th 


e  Earth;  when  the  Rain  and  Cold  of  the  Winter  is 
and  the  Spring  begins  to  bloflbm  and  fiouri(h,and  renew  the 
Face  of  the  Ground,  this  Call  is  in  a  peculiar  Manner  to 
be  heard,  from  our  blefTed  Redeemer,  Arife  and  come  away. 
When  we  hear  the  Call  of  CHRIST,  Rife  up,  and  come 
away,  we  prefently  difcover  the  Condition  of  thofe  who 
are  addrefled  !  They  are  indolent  and  fupine  and  fleepy 
Creatures  :  They  want  to  be  roufed  and  quickned  ;  and 
are  by  Nature  bowed  down,  fecure  and  dead.  The  Voice 
is,  Pufe  up.  Shake  off  the  mortal  Lethargy  that  hangs 
upon  your  Eye-  lids.  Arife  from  the  dead,  and  CHRIST 
(hall  give  thee  Life.  Awake  thou  that  fleepeft,  call  up- 
on thy  GOD.  And  indeed,  all  Mankind  need  fuch  a  Call 
as  this,  for  they  are  dead  in  TrefpafTes  and  Sins.  They 
are  cold  and  lifelefs  Corpfes,  unable  to  help  themfelves,' 
and  can  do  nothing  fpiritually  Good.  They  are  not  able 
as  of  themfelves,  to  think  fo  much  as  a  good  Thought  : 
And  they  have  only  a  Power  of  chufing  which  Sin  to  com- 
mit. They  may  if  they  pleafe  talk  of  a  Free-Wi!lt  and 
amufe  themfelves  with  the  idle  Notion.  But  alas,  they  are 
free  amongfl  the  dead  :  Free  'tis  true,  in  their  Choice  of 
Wickedneis,  but  it  mud  be  the  infinite  Power  of  GOD 
that  can  incline  them  to  any  Thing  fpiritually  good.  Our 
preaching  to  them  is  indeed  only  prophefying  over  dry 
Bones  :  Though  this  fometimes  does  Wonders.  In  one 
Word,  ihcy  a£l  entirely  from  felfifh  Principles,  negligent 
and  forgetful  of  the  Glory  of  GOD,  They  are  bowed 
down  to  Earth  and  Creatures,  and  their  own  abject  V/iJI  j 
and  have  need  to-  be  awaked.  R:fe  up.  I 


8      M  EDITATIONS  on  the  SPRING  of  the  Tear. 

In  a  few  Words,  it  comprifes  in  it  our  Duty  to  our 
LOR  D  JE  s u  s.  We  are  called  to  believe  in  CH  RI s T.  To 
rife  up  from  a  vain  Earth,  and  raife  our  Eyes  to  invifible 
and  eternal  Realities.  To  walk  by  Faith,  and  not  by  Sight. 

Rife  up  ;  'tis  a  Call  to  Repentance  that  we  are  by  Nature 
fo  bowed  down.  It  comes  with  a  Voice  of  Conviftion  and 
Awakening  ;  to  roufe  our  drowfy  Faculties,  and  ihakeus 
from  our  Security  and  Indifference.  Rife  up,  or  we  (hall 
lie  down  among  the  dead  ;  Hide  down  to  the  Congregatioa 
of  the  damned. 

?Tis  a  Call  to  Holinefs  and  Obedience.  Rife  up  and 
walk  :  It  demands  a  holy  walk  of  us ;  and  tells  us  that  our 
Converfation  fhould  be  in  Heaven  ;  that  we  fhould  feek  the 
Things  which  are  above,  and  carry  our  Treafure  over  into 
the  other  World.  The  Path  of  the  Juft— ihines  brighter 
as  it  rifes  higher. 

Rife  up,  it  befpeaks  our  Meditation  and  Prayer.  Lift  up 
your  Eyes  and  Hands,  your  Hearts  and  your  Souls.  Is  it 
not  a  Shame  that  this  Earth  fhould  feize  our  Thoughts  and 
Affe&ions,  and  GOD  and  CHRIST  have  fo  little  of  them? 
There  is  not  an  Object  we  fee,  but  may  ferve  to  raife  our 
Thoughts  to  GOD.  His  glorious  Name  is  divinely  im- 
prefled  upon  all  his  Works ;  and  with  one  Voice,  they  all 
call  out  to  us,  GOD  !  GOD  !  "  I  was  made  by  GOD  ! 
"  I  am  fupported  by  GOD  !  I  am  a  Servant  of  GOD  ! 
"  and  an  Inftrument  in  his  Hand  !  Rife,  up  \  Arife  and 
"  adore  GOD.  Contemplate  him,  pray  to  him,  adore  and 
"blefs  him." 

But  to  finifli  this  Point,  It  will  be  the  Call  of  CHRIST 
to  us  quickly  to  leave  this  World ;  Rife  up  and  come  away. 
Death  (hall  arrive  with  this  welcome  Meflage,  The  Mafler 
calleth  for  thee.  This  will  finifli  our  Life  upon  this  Earth, 
the  Voice  of  CHRIST  inviting  us  to  his  Kingdom  and  Glory. 
Rife  up  and  coins  away,  the  Winter  is  pafl,  the  Rain  is  over 
and  gone.  Every  Evil  will  be  concluded  forever,  and  we 
fball  enter  into  Reft :  The  Winter  of  Affli&ion,  Tempta- 
tion and  Sin,  will  no  more  moleft  us :  The  Evils  of  this 
World,  which  fell  on  us  like  a  continual  Dropping  in  a  very 
rainy  Day,  will  defcend  no  more  about  us.  The  Rain  is 
over  and  gone.  No  more  Storms  will  roar  in  our  Air ;  nor 

Clouds 


MEDITATIONS  on  tht  SPRING  of  the  Tear.     9 

Clouds  intercept  our  Sunftiine.  Thelaft  Tempeft  of  Death 
will  beat  after  us  but  a  little  Way  j  and  rapid  we  (hall  leave 
it  behind.  And  now,  welcome  everlafting  Delights  ! 
Welcome  the  opening  Dawn  of  Paradife  !  The  Time  of  the 
finging  of  Birds  is  come.  Angels  tune  their  Harps,  and 
join  their  Voices  about  us.  The  Flowers  appear  upon  the 
Earth  ;  and  the  everlafling  Hills  lift  up  their  flowery  Tops 
before  us.  Joys  unfelt  till  this blefTed  Moment,  will  no wfeize 
our  beating  Hearts,  and  our  Souls  will  leap  out,  obedient  to 
the  dear  Voice  that  calls  us,  Rife  up,  and  come  away. 

Thefe,  I  think,  are  natural  Heads  for  Meditation  from 
the  Words  :  But  that  which  I  principally  intend  co  allude 
to,  in  the  Procefs  of  thisDifcourfe,  is,  that  when  we  fee  the 
Annual  Spring  open  upon  the  Earth,  we  have  a  Call  to 
Rife  up  to  CHRIST  in  holy  Meditation  :  To  come  away 
from  lower  Objects  to  him  the  higheft  and  moft  worthy  of 
all.  The  Beauties  which  fraile  around  us,  at  this  lovely 
Seafon  of  the  Year,  unite  to  lead  our  Thoughts  to  CHRIST. 

The  Spring  looks  like  the  natural  Beginning  of  the  Tear  i 
And  befure  we  are  to  begin  our  Year  with  GOD.  The 
Demand  and  Expectation  of  the  blefled  GOD  is,  for  the 
firft-ripe  Fruits.  And  it  is  reafonable  that  our  firft  Care 
fhould  be  to  pleafe  him,  our  firft  Hours  confecrated  to  him* 
He  demands  of  us  the  firft  Day  in  every  Week,  and  why 
fliould  he  not  for  the  moft  part  have  the  firft  Hour  in  every 
Day  ;  and  the  firft  Seafon  in  every  Year  ?  Seek  firft  the 
Kingdom  of  GOD,  is  the  Direction  of  CHRIST*  A  Year 
begun  with  GOD,  is  a  Year  well  begun,  and  it  will  yield  a 
comfortable  Reflection  all  the  Year,  for  us  to  call  to  Mind 
how  we  have  been  enabled  to  fpend  the  firft  Mouths  of  ir. 

The  Temptations  of  the  Spring  afford  another  Argument 
for  us  to  obey  the  Call  of  CHRIST,  Rife  up,  and  come  away. 
That  the  Spring  is  attended  with  many  Circumftances  to 
tempt  away  our  Minds  from  GODandDuty,will  very  eafily 
be  rendered  plain  and  evident.  ,  Then  'tis  that  the  Face  of 
Naiure  purs  on  the  moft  gay  and  alluring  Smiles  ;  and  the 
beautiful  Profpects  about  us  are  apt  to  catch  away  our 
Thoughts,  and  poiTefsand  fill  up  ourMinds.  Then  'tis  too, 
that  our  animal  Spirits  are  mcft  fprightly  and  vigorous ;  and 
cur  fermented  Blood  pours  along  its  rapid  Current  more 

B  warm 


io   MEDITATIONS  on  the  SPRING  of  the  Tear. 

\varra  and  impetuous.  The  Chains  of  theWinter  are  melted 
off:  and  the  Bands  of  Orion  areloofed:  And  from  this  Flufh 
of  Bloouand  Spirits,  there  arifes  a  Variety  of  Temptations. 
Our  Appetites  are  moft  raging  and  violent ;  arid  our  infe- 
riour  Faculties  moft  apt  to  ufurp  the  Throne  of  Reafon 
and  Confcience.  We  are  now  inoft  eafily  deceived  with  the 
tempting  Profpefts  of  Futurity ;  and  we  prefume  upon  a  vain 
Earth,  and  Happinefs  here  below,  from  a  Warmth  of  Tem- 
per, and  the  Difpofition  of  our  Blood  and  animal  Spirits. 
Thus  we  fee  the  Temptations  of  the  Spring  both  external 
and  internal.  External,  from  the  alluring  Face  of  Nature  : 
Infernal,  from  our  own  Frame  and  Confutation.  How 
proper  then  the  Call  ?  Rife  up  and  come  away.  Does  the 
low  Face  of  the  Ground  tempt  us  ?  Rife  iff.  Get  above 
the  Earth.  Leave  the  Molehill  for  the  Emmies  to  inhabit  \ 
but  let  us  take  to  our  felves  Wings,  as  Angels,  and  fly  away. 
Have  we  our  Temptations  in  our  fehes  f  Come  away  then  ; 
let  us  get  out  of  our  felves  into  CHRIST  ;  feparate  our 
felves  from  our  felves,  and  mortify  and  root  out  the  cor- 
rupted felfifh  Principles  in  us. 

And  indeed  nothing  will  have  a  greater  Tendency  to 
demonftrate  our  Sincerity  in  Religion,  than  our  Refolution 
to  defeat  the  (trongeft  Temptations  which  affault  us  in  this 
World.  When  Sin  fpreads  all  its  Snares,  and  lays  all  its  al- 
luring Baits  in  our  Way,  if  we  have  then  Power  to  over- 
come all,  and  pafs  unhurt  amidft  all,  it  will  be  a  goodEvidence 
that  we  are  infpired  with  a  Power  fuperiour  to  "our  own  : 
That  the  HOLY  SPIRIT  is  inns ;  and  that  we  are  in  good 
Earnefl  in  Religion*  The  fame  Arguments  to  perfuade 
Youth  to  ferious  Piety,  are  in  the  fame  Senfe  proper  to 
perfuade  us  to  Religion  in  the  Spring.  Becaufe  we  may 
all  the  Year  look  back  on  it  with  this  concomitant  Satisfac- 
tion :  "  When  Temptations  were  mod  univerfai,  and  mofl 
impetuous,  I  flood  the  Shock,  and  was  carried  gracioufly 
through  them." 

And  what  an  Honour  will  it  be  for  us  to  overcome 
Temptations  when  they  areat-the  ftrongeil  ;  and  regulate 
our  Appetites  when  they  are  moft  raging  and  lawlefs  ?  So 
^ofeph,  fortified  with  the  Grace  of  GOD,  withflood  Satan 
and  himfelf  together,  joined  in  the  moil  dangerous  League  j 

he 


MEDITATIONS  on  the  SPRING  of  the  Tear,    n 

he  broke  loofe  from  the  Toils  of  Death,  and  by  a  wife  Re- 
treat, ru(hed  away,  purfued  by  Victory  and  Triumph.  This 
is  more  to  the  Honour  of  young  $ofeph,  than  a  Monu- 
ment of  Brafs,  and  the  Trophies  of  conquered  Nations  [ 
When  the  C&fars,  and  the  Alexanders,  and  the  Conquerors 
of  the  Ead,  bluih  and  hide,  fofeph  fhali  (land  applauded  by 
the  Judge  of  the  World,  and  faluted  by  (homing  Armies  of 
Men  and  Angels.  And  it  will  be  an  Honour  of  the  fame 
Nature,  for  us  to  be  moil  firm  and  reiolute,  when  Tempta- 
tions are  moil  frequent  and  violent.  So  that  if  it  has  been 
proved,  that  the  Spring  of  the  Year,  is  a  Seafon  lying  moil 
open  to  Temptations,  it  plainly  follows,  that  Religion  in  this 
precarious  Seafon,  is  attended  with  additional  Honours. 

Befides,  the  Rewards  of  our  future  Glory,  will  be  pro- 
portioned to  our  Labours  and  Difficulties.  We  know  that 
he  whofoweth  fparlngly^Jh all  reap  Jparingly  ;  and  they  who 
take  the  greated  Pains,  fhall  reap  the  fulled  Harveft.  Now 
he  who  (lands  his  Ground  sgaind  mod  Oppofuion,  who 
beats  through  the  thicked  Temptations  bed,  {hall  receive 
the  brighted  Crown,  and  hear  the  louded  Applaufe.  So 
that  if  we  would  attain  the  high  eft  Degrees  of  Glory,  one 
Way  is  to  fpend  that  Time  beft,  which  is  fulled  of  Temp- 
tations. When  it  was  aiTerted,  that  the  Spring  is  the  Sea- 
fon fulled  of  Temptations,  a  vain  Mind  would  perhaps  draw 
another  Conference  :  "Let  me  then  wait  for  a  more  conve- 
nient Seafon  for  the  Duties  of  Religion  and  Holinefs."  But 
it  is  you  fee  eafily  retorted.  Is  the  Spring  of  the  Year  ful- 
led of  Temptations,  fure  then  we  have  mod  need  of  gra- 
cious Hearts.  This  will  be  attended  with  the  highed  Piea- 
fure  in  the  Reflection  here  :  This  will  be  followed  with  the 
ampled  Rewards  of  Heaven  hereafter:  This  will  prove 
our  Sincerity  to  us  with  the  fulled  Evidence.  For,  as  one 
fpeaks, ','  if  there  be  no  Enemy,  there  can  be  no  Fight  j  if  no 
Fight,  noViftory;  if  no  Viaory,no  Crown."  And  on  the 
contrary,  if  there  be  powerful  Enemies,  there  will  enfue 
a  diarper  Fight,  9  greater  Victory,  and  a  brighter  Crown. 
But  to  take  the  Objeftors  in  their  own  Way. — 

The  Advantages  of  the  Spring  afford  another  Argument 
why  we  JJoould  I  bey  the  Call  of  CHRIST,  Rife  up  and  come 
away,  for  the  ]\rinter  is  pa/?,  the  Rain  is  ever  and  gone  ; 

B  a  many 


12  MEDITATINS   on  the  SPRING  of  the  Year. 

i 

many  Disadvantages  are  over  and  gone;  The  Time  of  the 
finging  of  Birds  is  come,  and  the  Flowers  appear  upon  the 
£:,r//6;  many  Advantages  come  pouring  round  us,  to  call, 
and  awaken,  excite  and  quicken  us. 

If  it  can  be  proved  that  there  are  peculiar  Advan- 
tage^ in  the  Spring  for  the  Duties  and  the  Delights  of  Piety, 
it  will  follow  of  Courfe  that  we  ought  to  make  ufe  of  thefc 
Advantages,  and  improve  them  while  they  laft  :  For  they 
are  all  but  fo  many  Talents  committedro  us  by  the  GOD  of 
Nature,  which  he  will  call  us  to  a  {trie!:  Account  for,  and 
roiferable  we,  if  we  can  give  no  good  Account  of  them. 

And  that  the  Spring  of  the  Year  is  indeed  attended  with 
fuch  Advantages  for  the  Labours  and  Delights  of  Piety, 
will  be  evident  upon  a  very  little  Reflexion.  Now  it  is 
that  the  Days  lengthen  apace,  and  the  Light  increafes  over 
us.  The  Morning  awakes  us  early;  and  the  Day-fpring 
from  on  high,  the  rifing  Sun,  calls  us  betimes  from  our 
Slumbers :  Rife  up,  and  come  away.  Now  it  is  alfo,  thac 
the  Weather  grows  moderate,  and  we  biefs  the  indulgence 
of  the  milder  Skies,  and  the  temperate  Air.  We  are  not 
chained  up  with  Cold,  or  confined  by  the  bleak  Winds. 
We  may  live  more  in  one  Diy  now,  than  in  many  that  are 
numbed  with  Frofh  and  chilled  by  the  Rigour  of  the 
Winter.  Now  it  is  alfo  that  our  Spirits  awaken,  and  our 
Blood  has  a  cheerful  and  lively  Flow, .  io  that  our  Souls 
sre  mofr  fprightly,  vigorous  and  active.  Our  Bofoms  kin- 
dle wini  new  Delighr.s,  and  we  enjoy  the  fmiling  Hours 
that  glide  imoothlv  by  us:  It  is  a  moft  happy  Seafon  to 
revive  the  joys  of  Piety,  and  raife  our  Satisfactions  in  the 
bleiTed  GOD  to  a  renewed  Ardor  and  Vehemence.  Add 
to  this,  now  it  is  that  our  Health  is  at  its  bed  Edate,  un- 
molefled  by  the  cold  Rheums  of  the  Winter,  or  the  faint 
Heats  of  the  Summer-Noons.  Beiides,  the  opening  of  the 
Earth  by  the  Plough,  and  rhe  Odours  of  the  varioiisBioffoms 
fcattered  from  every  glowing  Tree  around,  confpire  to  call 
back  the  declining  Health,  01  efrablifh  the  found  Confiitution. 
So  that  we  fee  new  Advantages  arife  in  every  Light,  and 
are  convinced  how  many  Opportunities  we  have  for  the 
Service  of  GOD,  and  the  Raptures  of  Devotion,  let  us  look 
where  we  wiij.  Whether  we  confider  the  lengthened 

Pays, 


MEDITATIONS  on  the  SPRING  of  the  Tear.    13 

Days,  and  the  many  Hours  of  Light  and  Bufinefs  :  The 
moderate  Weather,  and  fine  Temperature  of  the  Air  and 
Skies  :  The  Chearfulnefs  of  our  Spirits,  and  our  confirmed 
Health  ; — they, all  with  one  Voice  agree  in  the  Call,  Rife 
up,  and  come  away.  Rife  up  to  GOD  ;  ferve  him  in  thefe 
golden  Seafons,  thefe  fmiling  Moments,  which  tho'  they 
dance  along  fo  fmoorhly,  wing  away  fo  fwiftly.  Lovely  as 
they  are,  they  will  be  quickly  gone  and  over.  Let  them 
not  pafs  without  this  additional  Delight  in  the  Reflexion, 
that  we  ferved  GOD  in  them,  and  tafted  the  fublimeft 
Tranfports  of  Devotion,  while  we  filled  them  up  in  Com- 
munion with  GOD. 

Befides,  in  the  Spring  of  the  Year,  we  have  many  Advan* 
t ages  for  Meditation,  and  are  furrounded  with  Objefts  for 
this  holy  and  blefled  Employment.  Now  the  Works  of 
GOD  (bine  in  our  Eyes,  with  the  moft  finifbed  Beauty,  and 
raife  our  Thoughts  to  the  infinite  Artificer,  who  has  poured 
out  fuch  a  Profufion  of  Charms  and  Graces  on  the  wide 
Creation.  The  Flowers  appear  upon  the  Earth,  and  the 
Time  of  the  finging  of  Birds  is  come,  rife  up,  and  come  away. 
To  be  particular  here,  I  (hall  offer  a  Sec  ofMeditations  pe- 
culiarly adapted  to  the  Spring  of  the  Year,  and  raifed  out 
of  the  Objefts  which  then  fmile  around  us. 

Firfl  of  all,  See  the  Perfections  of  the  glorious  GOD* 
Who  gave  the  Face  of  Nature  thefe  flowery  Charms  ?  How 
beauteous  then,  and  how  divine  the  Being  whofe  fcattered 
Rays  fo  adorn  the  blooming  Earth  !  The  glowing  Raptures 
of  divine  Love  and  facred  Meditation  may  well  be  lighted 
up  by  thefe  wondrous  Works  which  we  behold  about  us. 
See  the  Glories  of  creating  Power  difplayed  in  the  Flourilh 
of  the  Spring  !  *  And  GO  Df aid,  Let  the  Earth  bring  forth 
Grafs,  the  Herb  yielding  Seed,  and  the  Fiuit  Tree  yielding 
.  Fruit  after  his  Kind,  whofe  Seed  is  in  itjelf,  upon  the  Earth. 
And  the  Earth  brought  forth  Grafs,— and  Herbs,— and 
Trees, —  and  GOD  f aw  that  it  was  good.  And  it  is  h« 
unwe-iried  Providence  that  ftill  demands  cur  Afcriptions. 
-j  Thou  renewejl  the  Face  of  the  Earth. 

Look  abroad  in  the  Spring,  and  fee  the  Beauty  and  Be- 
neficence of  Divine  Providence,  and  learn  to  adore  and  truit 
GOD.  |  Therefore,  I  fay  unto  you,  take  no  Thought  for  your 

Life. 

*  £cn.  i.  ii,  12.        t  Pfalra  civ.  30.        i  Mat.  vi.  2C.         "j 


14   MEDITATIONS  on  fA*  SPRING  of  the  Tear 

Lifejwhat  ye  Jk all  eat,  nor  for  your  Body,  what  ye Jb  all  put  on 
--  Behold  tbeFowls  of  the  Air — Tour  Father  provides for  them 
—Confider  the  Li  I  lies  of  the  Field,  how  they  grow ;  they  toil 
not,  nor  do  they  f pin,  and  yet  I  fay  unto  you,  that  Solomon  in 
all  his  Glory  was  not  arrayed  like  one  of  thefe.  Wherefore  if 
GODfo  doath  the  Grafs  of  the  Field,  which  to  Day  is,  and 
To-morrow  is  cafl  into  the  Oven.Jhall  he  not  much  more  cloath 
you,  O  ye  of  little  Faith  f  How  proper  fuch  a  Traft  in 
GOD,  and  fuch  a  confecrated  Meditation,  when  the  Time 
of  fmging  of  Birds  is  come  and  the  Flowers  appear  upon 
the  Earth  ?  '  My  GOD  feeds  the  Birds,  and  adorns  the 
'  Flowers,  (hall  he  not  much  rather  feed  and  cloath  me  I 
*  Does  he  not  love  me  better  than  thefe  ?' 

Look  abroad  in  the  Spring  and  rife  our  Thoughts  to  the 
Refutrettion  of  the  Dead  at  the  lad  Day.  Thefe  Fields 
TCere  once  covered  with  Snow  like  the  Pale  of  Death. 
Thefe  Trees  were  difrobed  of  their  flowry  Honours,  and 
appeared  bare  and  naked  like  theBones  in  a  Sepulchre.  The 
Rofes  droped  away,  and  the  Lillies  hung  down  their  Heads 
and  died  :  But  fee  how  the  Year  revives  again,  and  bloffoms, 
and  brightens,  and  lives.  *  And  when  ye  fee  this,  your 
Heart  ft)  all  rejoice,  and  your  Bones  Jb  all  flourifh  like  an  Herb. 
Juft  as  thefe  Groves  revive,  and  as  this  Grafs  renews  its 
Green,  fo  (hall  our  fcattered  Bones  flourifh  from  their  pro^ 
lifick  Graves.  When  CHRIST  the  Judge  (hall  defcend 
from  Heaven,  our  dead  Bodies  (hall  hear  his  Call,  Rife  up, 
and  come  away,  for  to,  the  Winter  is  paft,  the  Rain  is  over 
&nd  gone,  the  Flowers  appear  on  the  Earth,  the  Time  of  the 
ftnging  of  Birds  is  come.  ||  He  Jhall  come  down  like  Rain 
upon  the  mown  Grafs  :  as  Showers  that  water  the  Earth. 
In  his  Days  fball  the  Righteous  flourifh — They  that  dwelt 
in  the  Wildernefs — the  burying  Place—the  wild  and  folirary 
Retreats  of  Death  and  the  Grave,— -fhall  bow  before  him.\ 
In  what  a  living  Reprefentation  do  we  fee  the  Refurreclion 
of  the  Dead,  exemplified  in  the  Refurreclion  of  the  Year. 
J  They  of  the  City,  Jb  all  flour  ijh  like  the  Grafs  of  the  Earth. 
Who  can  count  it  a  Thing  incredible  that  GOD  Ihould 
raife  the  Dead,  who  fees  him  fo  renew  the  flowery  Fields, 
and  the  blooming  Trees  !  Cannot  he  as  eafily  make  our 

Graves,, 

*  Ifaiah  Ixvi.  14.         '   PuJip  Uxih  6. —     f  Pfalna  Ixxii,  16, 


MEDITATIONS  on  the  SPRING  of  the  Ttar.    15 

Graves,  as  our  Gardens  to  blofibm  I  The  WUdernefs  and 
thefolitary  Place  jhall  be  glad  for  them,  and  Ike  Defert  Jhall 
rejoice,  and  blojjbm  as  a  Rofe.  It  Jball  bloffbm  abundantly, 
and  rejoice  even  wlthjinglng  ;  the  Glory  of  Lebanon  Jhall 
be  given  to  it,  the  Excellency  of  Car  me!  and  Sharon  :  They 
Jhall  fee  the  Glory  of  the  LORD,  and  the  Excellency  of  our 
GOD.*  Thy  dead  Mm  Jhall  live,  together  with  my  dead 
Body  Jhall  they  arife  :  awake  and  fing,  ye  that  dwell  m 
dufl  :  for  thy  dew  is  as  the  dew  of  Herbs,  and  the  Earth 
Jhall  cafl  out  the  dead.\ 

Again,  See  the  fair  Scenes  about  you,  and  lead  your 
Meditations  to  \\\tjinal  judgment  of  the  World.  \  Let  the 
Heavens  rejoice,  and  let  the  Earth  be  glad:  let  the  Sea  roar, 
and  the  Fullne/s  thereof.  Let  the  Field  be  joyful,  and  all 
that  is  therein:  then  Jhall  all  the  Trees  of  the  Wood  rejoice. 
Before  the  Lord  ;  for  he  cometh,  for  he  cometh  to  judge 
the  .Earth  :  he  Jhall  judge  the  World  with  Rightewfnefs, 
and  the  People  with  his  Truth.  And  indeed,  well  may  the 
Earth,  and  Fields,  and  Woods  rejoice,  which  are  to  be  re- 
newed, and  bloom  in  a  perpetual  Spring.  All  the  Creatures 
groan,  for  this  Reflitution  of  all  Things.  §  Never thelefs, 
we  according  to  his  Promife,  look  for  new  Heavens,  and  a 
new  Earth,  wherein  dwelleth  Right  eoufnefs. 

See  the  Flowers  appear  upon  the  Earth  in  the  Spring, 
and  rife  up  to  Meditations  on  the  fwift  Progrefs  of  the 
Gofpel  through  the  World.  The  Sun  of  Righteoufnefs  fo 
arofe  with  healing  in  his  Wings ;  and  the  Church  of  GOD 
fprouted  and  fprnng  up,  and  flourifhed  at  the  reviving  Hear* 
So  was  the  Prophefy  of  the  myftical  Ifrael,  \Ifrael ftj all 
blojjom  and  bud,  and  Jill  the  Face  of  the  World  with  Fruit, 
So  the  typical  Rod  of  Aaron,  budded,  and  brought  -forth 
Buds,  and  bloomed  Bloffbms,  and  yielded  Almonds.  **  So/-6tf 
Sower  goes  out  in  the  Spring,  to  few  ;  and  O  what  a  large 
Harveft  covers  the  Fields  around  him  !  This  World  lay 
in  the  Cold  and  Darknefs  of  a  long  Winter-Night,  till  the 
Gofpel,  like  the  Day-fpring  from  on  high,  vifited  the  Na- 
tions, and  a  fudden  Spring  covered  the  Face  of  the 
Ground.  .  ff  Thus -faith  the  LORD  GOD,  I  will  alfo  take 

°f 
*  Ifaiah  xxxv.  I,  2.     f  Ifa.  xxvi.  19.     J  Pfalm  xcvi.  11,— • 

§  2  ret.  iii.  13.  !(  Ifaiah  xxvii.  6.     **  Numb.  xvH.  8. 

ft  Ezek.  xvii.  22, —  24. 


16  MEDITATIONS  on  the  SPRING  of  the  Tear. 

•f  the  highefl  Branch  of  the  high  Cedar,  and  will  fet  //,  7 
'Will  crop  off  from  the  top  of  his  young  Twigs  a  tender  ons, 
end  will  plant  it  upon  an  high  Mountain  and  eminent.    In 
the  Mountain  of  the  height  of  Ifrael  will  I  plant  it  :  and 
it  Jhall  bring  forth  Boughs,  and  bear  Fruit,  and  be  a  goodly 
Cedar  :  and  under  it  /ball  dwell  all  Fowl  of  every  Wing  :  in 
the  Shadow  of  the  Branches  thereof  fb all  they  dwell.     And 
all  the  Trees  of  the  Field  Jh all  know  that  I  the  LORD  have 
brought  down  the  high  Tree,  have  exalted  the  low  Tree,  have 
dried  up  the  green  Tree,   and  have  made  the  dry  Tree  tQ 
flounjh  :  I  the  LORD  havefpoken  and  have  done  it.    The 
GOD  of  Heaven  called  to  the  Nations  that  lay  in  Igno- 
rance and  Wicked nefs,  Rife  up,  and  come  away,  and  at  once 
the  Shades  fcattered,  and  the   Darknefs  fled  away  ;  and 
the  Nations  of  them  who  are  faved  walked  in  open  Light. 
See  the  gay  Appearance  of  the  Spring,  and  learn  the 
Deftruftion  of  the  Wicked.     The  beautiful  annual  Flourifh 
which  now  fo  charmingly  guilds  the  Fields,  fhall  quickly 
fade  away,  and  die.  So  the  laft  Spring  was  fcorched  by  the 
Summer-Sun,  and  frozen  by  the  Winter-Cold.     And  do 
We  not  here  behold  the  lively  Emblem  of  a  wicked  Man, 
and  the  fudden,  and  the  dreadful  Change  which  muft  pafs 
upon  him  ?     *  When  the  Wicked  Jpring  as  the  Grafs,  and 
when  all  the  Workers  of  Iniquity  doftounjb,  it  is  that  they 
fhall  be  deftroyedfor  ever.     So   Nebuchadnezzar  flood  f 
flourijbing  in  his  Palace  and  at  once  fell  down  deprived  of 
human  Reafon,  and  howled  like  a  wild  Beaft,  through  the 
blafted  Defart.  How  often  does  it  happen  that  the  impious 
Youth  is  cut  off  at  once,  like  a  fudden  Froft  withering  the 
whole  Spring  in  its  Infant-Bud  ?  ||  It  jhall  be  accompliJLed 
before  itsTime,  and  bis  Branch  Jhall  not  be  green.    He  fl^dll 
Jhake  off  his  unripeGrape  as  the  Vine  ;  and  Jhall  c  a  ft  off  his 
Flower  as  the  Olive.  What  though  the  wicked  Man  glitters 
in  all  his  gaudy  Piide,  and  has  every  Beauty  fmiling  round 
him ;  what  though   hir  filken  Apparel   be  gay   like  the 
Spring  ;  and  like  the  flowery  Crown  on  every  wavingTree, 
yet  is  Deftruction  from  GOD  nigh  to  the  unhappy  Crimi- 
nal.   |  Wo  to  the  Crown  of  Pride, -*-whofe  glo  ious  beauty  is 
a  fading  Flower,  on  the' Head  of  the  fat  V allies.     This  is 
the  great  Woe  of  an  ahnigbty  GOD,-  denounced  again  ft 

the 

*  PfaV  ten    *      '»•  tten.  iv    /.,    H  tob  Xf.  44.  44.    ±  ifai.  J&Y'iU.  1- 


MEDITATIONS  on  -/^SPRING  oftheYear.     17 

tlie  mofl  pompous  Sons  of  Earth  ;  and  as  it  is  denounced  it 
fhall  come  on.  *  Behold  the  Day,  beheld  it  is  come,  the 
Morning  is  gone  forth,  the  Rod  hath  blojfomed,  Pride  hath 
budded :  Violence  hath  rifen  up  into  a  Rod  of  Wickednefs  i 
None  ef  them  Jhall  remain^ — the  Time  is  come,  the  Day 
draweth  near,  let  not  the  Buyer  rejoice,  nor  the  Seller  mourn  ; 
for  wrath  is  iff  on  all  the  Multitude  thereof.  Let  the  Wick- 
ed then  look  frefh  as  the  green  Herb,  and  ch earful  as  the 
opening  Spring,  yet,  rife  up  and  come  away  our  Thoughts 
from  his  prefent  Glory  to  his  future  Ruins.  The  Epiraph 
on  the  mod  flourifliing  wicked  Men,  will  be  that,  f  They 
were  as  the  Grafs  of  the  Field,  and  as  the  green  Herb,  as 
the  Grafs  on  the  Houfe  tfofs,  and  as  Corn  blafted  before  it 
be  grown  up. 

Look  abroad  upon  the  opening  Spring,  and  behold  a 
beautiful  Emblem  of  human  Life.  For  all  Flejh  is  Grafs* 
and  the  Glory  of  Man  as  the  Flower  of  Grafs,  the  Grufs 
wiihereth,  and  the  Flower  fadeth  away\  See  the  glowing 
BlofToms,  how  foon  they  drop  to  the  Ground ;  and  what 
are  we  ourfelves  better  than  they  ?  §  He  comet h fort has  a 
Flower,  and  is  cut  down.  In  the  Spring  we  fee  the  ver- 
dent  Grafs,  and  the  blufhing  Flowers ;  but  to  fade  and  die 
is  common  to  both,  and  equally  to  us  with  them.  ||  As  for 
Man  his  Days  are  as  Grafs,  as  a  Flower  of  the  Field  fo 
heflourijheth  ;  for  the  Wind  pajjeth  over  it  and  it  is  gone* 
and  the  Place  thereof .  foall  know  it  no  more.  Nay,  fhould 
we  efcape  Death  in  our  Youth,  and  outlive  the  Spring  of 
our  Time,  yet  Old- Age  will  come  on,  when  our  hoary 
Heads  will  be  covered  like  the  Groves  with  white  Blofibtns* 
So  is  the  beautiful  and  accurate  Defcription  of  Old-Age 
by  Solomon,  **  Fhe  Almond  Tree  Jball  fiourifo.  And  in  a 
little  Time  mud  the  Silver  Crown  be  thrown  at  the  Feet 
of  Death,  and  the  Blnffom  go  up  as  Duft.\\  Here  then  is 
the  Life  of  Man  exa&ty  ;  no  more  than  a  fading  Spring. 
H  In  the  Morning  they  arc  like  Grafs  that  growth  up. 
In  the  Morning  it  [flounjheth  and  groweth  up,  •  in  the 
Evening  it  is  cut  down  and  withereth.  When  the 
Winter  is  pail  then,  and  the  Flowers  appear,  and  the 
Birds  fing,  do  we  not  hear  the  Voice  of  CHRIST  so  us  ? 

C  Th 

*  KzeT<.  vii.  id.     f  2  Ftirtgs  xix,  26.     i  1  Pfct.  j.  24.     $   tob.  *«v.  2. 
li  rfal,  ciii.  15.     »*  ficcl.xii,  5.     ft"  *fa«  v»  24*  ' 


i8    MEDITATIONS  on  /£<?  SPRING  of  the  Tear. 

*  The  Voice  faid,  Cry,  and  he  faid,  What  Jhall  I  cry  * 
Jill  Flejh  is  Grafs,  and  all  the  Goodlinefs  thereof  as  the 
Flower  of  the  Field.  The  Grafs  ivithereth,  and  the 
Flower  fadeth.  Surely  the  People  is  Grafs. 

The  Winter  is  paft,  the  Flowers  appear ,  the  Time  of  the 

fmgin^  of  Birds  is  come.  Rife  up,  and  corns  away  :  Confider 

the  wcffed  and  happy  Condition  of  the  holy.  They  are  under 

the  mild  Influence  of  a  perpetual  Spring;  and  Paradife  it- 

felf  breathes  in  their  tranfported  Breafts.     \*The  righteous 

Jhall  flour  I jh  like  the  Palm  free,  he  Jhall  grow  like  the  Cedar 

in  Lebanon.     Tbofe  that  be  planted  in  the  Houfe  of  the 

LORD,  Jhall  flourijh  in  the  Courts  of  our  GOD.     They /hall 

bring  forth  Fruit  in  Old- Age :  cfhey  Jhall  be  fat  andflourijh- 

ir,g.     The  good  Man  himfelf  §&\\  be  chearful  and  profpe- 

rous  as  the  youthful  Spring.     J  the  Righteous Jhall flourijb 

as  a  Branch.     And  even  the  Houfe  of  the  good  Man  (hall 

be  blefTed,  even  his  Children  (hall  (hoot  up  as  Olive-Plants 

around  his  Table.     §  the  tabernacle  of  the  Upright  Jhall 

faurijh.     O  happy  Man,  thrice,  yea,  four  Times  happy  ; 

• Blefled  art  thou,   and  bleiTed   are  thy  Children,  and 

thy  Servant?.     ||  thy  tabernacle  Jh ill  be  in  Peace. thy 

Seed  /ball  be  great,  and  thy  Oj/f-fpring  as  the  Grcfs  of  the 
Earth.  Thoujhalt  come  to  tbv  Grave  as  a  Shock  of  Corn 
in  its  Seafon.  This  is  the  Man  beloved  of  his  GOD,  the 
Darling  of  Heaven,  and  fair  and  beauteous  as  an  immortal 
Spring.  He  fall grow  as- the  Lilly,  and  caft  forth  bit  Roofs 
as  Lebanon  ;  his  Branches  foall  fpread,  and  his  Beauty  fhall 
be  as  the  Olive-Tree,  and  his  Smell  as  Lebanon.  And  the 
defcending  Dews  of  Heaven  (hall  (liil  refredi  and  cherifh 
him.  **  He  Jhxll  revive  as  the  Corn,  and  blojjom  as  the 
Vine.  This  is  your  Portion,  ye  holy  People,  and  (hall  we 
not  rife  up  from  the  lower  Spring,  and  rejoice  in  our  GOD, 
who  gives  us  to  vie  with  ir,  and  aflfert  our  fuperiour  Beauty, 
ff  Although  the  Fig-Tree  Jhall  not  b/offom,  neither  foil!  Fruit 
be  on  t be  Vines,  the  Labour  of  the  Olive  Jhill  fail,  and  ths 
Field  Jhall  yield  no  Meat,  yet  'will  I  rejoice  in  the  LORD, 
I  'will  joy  in  the  GOD  of  my  Salvation.  This  GOD,  may 
'  the  good  Man  fay,  will  (hower  his  Bleffings  round  me  with 
a  laviili  Hand,  and  though  the  Year  die  in  the  Spring,  I 

(h:i;l 

*   Ifa.  xl.  6/    f  Ffal.  xcii.  12.      J  Prcv.  x'.  28.       §  Prov.  xiir.  n. 
|i  job  v,  24.       **  Hotta  xiv.  5.       if  HaK  iii.  i7« 


MEDITATIONS  on  the  SPRING  of  the  Year.     19 

(hall  be  fat isfied  with  good  Things.  •*  lie  maketh  me  lie 
down  in  green  Paftures,  he  leaneth  me  bejide  the  /?///  Waters. 
j  See !  the  Smell  of  my  Son  is  as  the  Smell  of  a  Field 
which  the  LORD  hath  ble/ed.  GOD  /hall  give  thee  the 
Dew  of *  Heaven ,  and  the  Fat  fiefs  of  the  Earth,  and  Plenty  of 
Corn  and  Wine. 

Again,  See  the  Spring ;  and  what  a  proper  Meditation 
rifes  out  of  it,  on  the  Sufferings  of  our  LORD  JESUS  ? 
The  Flowers  appear  on  the  Earth  ;  Rife  up  and  come  away  : 
Contemplate  the  Bitternefs  and  Sorrows  of  the  bleeding 
JESUS,  in  the  Garden  of  his  Agony.  We  behold  the 
charming  Afpect  of  Nature  all  about  us ;  and  are  raviflied 
with  the  Beauty  of  Profpeft  from  the  green  Grafs,  and 
the  Rofey  and  the  Silver  BlofToms :  He  had  fomething  elfe 
to  do,  when  he  lay  weeping  on  the  Ground,  and  cried, 
My  Days  are  like  a  Shadow  that  dec  line tb  :  and  I  am  wi- 
thered like  Grafs.  \  So  the  Lilly  of  the  Valley  lay,  hung 
down  his  Head,  drooped  and  languished.  He  bowtd  his 
Head,  and  gave  up  the  Ghoft.  BleiTed  SAVIOUR  !  Js  not 
rhis  the  Call  we  hear  from  thee,  in  the  Spring,  To  rife  up 
and  confider,  If  thefe  Things  be  done  to  the  green  Tree,  what 
Jbjll  be  done  to  the  dry  f  Adam  finned  iu  a  Garden,  and 
ior  this  our  LORD  fullered  in  a  Garden,  and  was  buried 
in  a  Garden. 

Look  on  the  amiable  Land  (kip,  and  remember  the  Eden 
we  have  loft  The  Time  oftbeJlngingofEirds  is  PAST; 
and  of  flowery  Fields.  The  very  Ground  is  under  the 
Curfe.  Thorns  alfo  and  Thiftles  jhall  it  brin^  forth  unto  thee. 

To  conclude,  The  Winter  is  pa  ft,  the  Rain  is  over  and 
gone  ;  the  Time  of  the  finging  of  Birds  is  ccme,  and  the 
Flowers fmile  over  the  Ground:  Rife  up  and  come  away; 
Lift  up  your  Eyes  to  the  foy-f  prepared  for  good  Men  after 
Death.  The  Glories  and  Delights  of  Paradife,  how  iub- 
lime  and  magnificent  are  they,  when  even  this  lower  World 
can  look  fo  beauteous  from  the  Flowers  of  the  Spring  ! 
This  Earth,  polluted  by  Sin,  and  devoured  by  the  Curfe  of 
GOD,  does  yet  retain  fo  much  of  its  Ornament  and  gay 
Afpec~r.  Bur,  O  ravifhing  Glories  of  the  Place  where 
no  Curfe  lays  wade,  no  Sin  defiles  !  The  Paradife  of  holy 
Souls  j  the  Manfion  of  bleiTed  Angels  j  the  imperial  Seat 

C  2  and 

JE-J..J,  2,     i  cea,  wv'ii,  26, 27.     t  P&Un  <?»<  u* 


so   MEDITATIONS  on  the  SPRING  of  the  Tear, 

and  Refidence  of  GOD  !  In  our  low  Spring  of  Earth,  all 
cur  Senfes  are  agreeably  entertained  with  a  Variety  of 
Delights  and  Satisfactions,  Ihe  Winter  is  paft,  and  as  the 
Cold  decays,  a  moderate  Warmth  diffufes  through  the  Air, 
we  feel  ir,  and  are  refreftied  by  ir.  The  Time  of  thejinging 
of  Birds  is  come,  and  our  Ears  are  regaled  by  all  the  Har- 
mony of  the  Groves  and  Foreds.  The  idle  Muficians  of 
the  Spring  fill  the  Fields  and  the  Skies  with  their  artlefs 
Melody.  A  thoufand  Odours  are  thrown  from  every 
Bough;  and  fcatter  through  the  Air,  to  gratify  our  Smell. 
*£he  Flowers  appear  on  the  Earth ;  and  the  opening  Buds, 
and  riling  Grafs  drefs  the  rich  Landfcape,  and  paint  the 
Scene  to  delight  and  charm  our  Eyes.  Thefe  are  the 
Pleafures  of  an  earthly  Spring  :  But,  O  the  Joys  of  the 
upper  Paradife  !  There  the  Eyes  are  delighted  with  Sun- 
fliine  ever  bright,  and  Fields  divinely  fair,  and  never  fading. 
The  Angels,  and  not  the  Birds,  fing  ;  and  nothing  addrefles 
the  Ear  but  Hallelujahs  and  Anthems  to  GOD  :  The 
Fruits  of  the  Tree  of  Life  fatisfy  the  Tafle  ;  and  Rivers  of 
Pleafures,  and  the  Breath  of  GOD,  banifh  Third,  and  cool 
the  deathlefs  Region.  From  the  Things  that  we  fee  then 
all  below  us,  Rife  up,  and  come  aw  j,  to  the  future  State  of 

eternal  Rewards,  referved  in  Heaveu  for  us.- Arife, 

let  its  go  hence. 

And  now  what  remains  bnt  the  Exhortation  and  the 
Motives  in  my  Text  ?  Rife  up,  and  come  away,  for  the  Winter 
is  pa/I,  the  Rain  is  over,  and  gone,  the  Flows-  s  appear  on  the 
Earthy  the  'Time  of  tbejinging  of  Birds  is  come.  Lo,  the 
Seafon  of  the  Year,  and  every  fragran:  Breeze  of  Air, 
confpire  to  awaken  us  to  Thoughts  on  GOD,  and  to 
quicken  our  Love  to  him,  and  truft  in  him.  Univerfal 
Nature  about  us  with  one  Voice,  fmgs  Hallelujah  aloud. 
Glory  to  GOD  in  the  Higheft,  is  refounded  by  every  tune- 
ful Bird,  every  warbling  Brook,  and  bubling  Fountain. 
Incenfe  to  the  GOD  of  Heaven  is  offered  by  every  opening 
Lilly,  and  glowing  Bloflbm,  which  perfume  the  Air  with 
(heir  ambient  Sweets.  The  wide  Earth  we  tread  on  feems 
but  one  great  Altar,  covered  with  Incenfe  and  Offerings  to 
GOD  its  Maker.  And  foal!  not  we  alfo  offer  our  felves 
Upon  it  ?  Rife  up,  and  conic  away.  It  belongs  to  us,  as  the 
Priefts  of  GOD  below,  to  exprcfs  the  Praifes  of  the^fub- 


MEDITATIONS  on  the  SPRING  of  the  Year.   21 

ordinate  Creatures  in  articulate  Sounds,  and  utter  their 
filent  Voice  in  intelligible  Language.  For  all  thy  Works 
praife  thee,  0  LORD,  and  thy  Saints  blefe  thee. 

But  the  Application  may  more  particularly  be  dire&ed 
to  young  People,  who  exult  under  the  Indulgence  of  a 
double  Spring.  To  you,  my  Brethren,  I  turn  my  Addrefs  ; 
and  fufFer,  I  pray  you,  the  Word  of  Exhortation.  Will 
you  wade  thefe  golden  Moments,  that  glitter  in  the  Spring 
of  Life,  which  once  fled  away,  can  never,  never  return ! 
Rife  up,  and  come  away  \  leave  the  lower  Objects  that  allure 
and  tempt  you.  Give  your  felves  up  to  GOD  this  In- 
flant.  Seekjirft  the  Kingdom  of  GOD  and  his  Right  eoufnefs, 
find  all  other  Things  ft all  be  added  unto  you.  Rife  up,  for 
lo,  the  Winter  [_is  pafl  {hall  I  fay  ?  Nay]  is  coming  on,  and 
the  evil  Days  of  Rain  and  Temped  are  haftening  over 
you.  Remember  now  thy  Creator  in  the  Days  of  thy  Tbutb, 
before  the  evil  Days  come,  and  the  Tears  draw  nigh,  when 
thou  fhalt  Jay  I  have  no  Pleafure  in  them.  Rife  up,  out 
of  the  Way  of  thefe  defcending  Evils,  by  a  Flight  to  the 
dear  SAVIOUR,  who  invites  you  with  his  gracious  Voice, 
and  opens  his  tender  Arms  to  receive  you.  My  Brethren, 
Your  Life  will  decay,  like  the  fading  Spring :  O  let  it  not 
before  your  eternal  Well-being  is  fecured,  and  a  fure  Foun- 
dation for  happy  Refleflion  laid  in  thefe  pleafant  hours. 

Thus  have  I  taken  you  with  me  to  meditate  in  the  Fields. 
We  have  bcenfurveying  the  beautiful  Scenes  of  the  Spring  : 
And  dial  I  we  have  no  good  EiFe&  of  the  foft  Profpecls  ? 
Shall  not  a  rival  Glory  open  and  dawn  in  our  ravifhed 
Hearts,  while  all  the  Fields  flourifti  about  us  ?  O  for  a 
Spring  now  !  and  that  even  while  I  am  fpeaking,  every 
confeilting  Bread  may  feel  new  Delights  in  GOD  kindle 
with  a  fudden  Flame,  and  glow  with  immortal  Ardor  ! 
This  is  the  Defign,  as  of  all  the  Meflages  from  thePulpir, 
fo  particularly  of  this  Difcourfe  on  the  Springing  Year. 
I  would  call  your  Souls  into  flourifh  like  the  Earth  about 
you.  *  My  Doctrine  flail  drop  as  the  Rain,  my  Speech 
Jhall  diftill  as  the  Dew ;  as  the  fmall  Ram  upon  the  ten- 
der Htrb  ;  and  as  the  Showers  upon  the  Grafs.  Away  ! 
thou  North-wind ;  and  come  thou  South,  blow  upon  my 
Garden,  that  the  Spices  thereof  may  flow  out. 

Thofe 
••»  Deut,  x:uii,  2, 


22  MEDITATIONS  on  the  SPRING  of  the  Tear. 

Thofe  of  us  who  have  recovered  from  the  Sick-Bed, 

methinks,  may  hear  the  loud  Call,  Rife  up, Arife.and 

walk!  Tafte  the  renewed  Bounties  of  Heaven  with  re- 
doubled Pleafure,  ^hile  we  redouble  our  Labours  for 
GOD,  and  his  Kingdom.  But,  ah  !  Let  us  not  think  ihe 
Danger  is  all  f  aft,  and  the  Rain  is  over  and  gone  ;  for  the 
Clouds  return  after  the  Rain.  Death  (hall  quickly  fhut  the 
pleafing  Scene,  and  the  Days  of  Darknefs  (ball  be  many. 
Do  therefore  with  thy  Might,  what  thy  Handfindeth  to  do. 
If  all  the  Care  of  Heaven  ro  manure  and  cultivate  you 
be  loft,  the  Voice  quickly  will  be  that,  No  Fruit  be  found 
on  t  bee  for  ever  !  Cut  it  down! — Ah  !  rejefted  and  nigh 
unto  Curfmg,  thy  End  is  to  be  burned. 

And  indeed,  The  Addrefs  of  Heaven  is  proper  for  us 
all :  For  we  are  all  in  the  Spring  of  our  Being,  while  we 
are  in  this  Life,  Eternity  is  like  an  endlefs  Year,  of 
which  this  Life  is  the  budding  Spring.  And,  as  the  Spring 
is,  the  Year  is  likely  to  be  more  or  lefs  fruitful  and  bidfed. 
If  in  this  Life  we  finally  difobey  GOD  ;  the  Spring  of 
this  Life  will  end  in  the  Heat  of  a  withered  Summer,  the 
Flames  of  eternal  Fire.  If,  on  the  contrary,  we  ferve 
GOD  from  a  Principle  of  Faith  in  CHRIST,  our  Spring 
will  end  in  a  blefled  Harveft:  And  we  (hall  enter  upon 
the  Feaft  of  the  Fruits  that  adorn  Paradife.  Death  itfelf 
will  but  convey  us  to  the  Regions  of  immortal  Life  :  And 
our  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST  the  good  Shepherd,  will  lead 
us  through  the  dark  Valley,  to  the  green  Paftupes,  and  the 
ftill  Waters.  There  the  Groves  ever  bloffom,  the  Flowers 
ever  flourifh,  and  the  Fields  are  ever  green.  There 
JESUS  hioifelf  blooms  in  unveiled  Charms,  and  thence 
invites  us  to  him,  with  his  dear  Voice.  We  may  lie  upoa 
the  Bed  of  Death,  and  fee  the  endlefs  Glories  dawn  be-, 
hind  the  Glooms,  and  guild  and  break  away  the  awful 
Shadows.  We  may  fee  our  dear  SAVIOUR  at  a  Diftance, 
encouraging  our  defired  Flight.  We  may  hear  his  Voice 
found  charming  through  the  dark  Length  of  the  Vale  of 
Death  ;  Rife  vf,  and  come  away  !  We  may  exult  to  hear 
the  great  Voice  from  Heaven,  CO 'ME  HP  HITHER  !  And 
the  Jaft  Wouib  we  utter,  when  we  le^ve  the  Fiourith.  of 


MEDITATIONS  on  /^SPRING  of  the  lear.    23 

the  lower  Spring  may  be  like  that,  *  It  is  the  Voice  of  my 
Beloved :  He  looketh  forth  at  the  Windows,  fiounjhing 
through  the  Lattefs.  Then  (hall  be  compleatly  fulfilled  to 
you,  that  Netted  Promife,  f  For  as  the  Rain  cometh  down, 
and  the  Snow  from  Heaven,  and  returneth  not  thither,  but 
watereth  the  Earth,  and  maketh  it  bring  forth  and  bud, 
that  it  may  give  Seed  to  the  Sower,  and  Bread  to  the  Eater : 
So  ft all  my  Word  be  that  goeth  forth  out  of  my  Mouth  :  it 
jhall  not  return  unto  me  void,  but  it  Jhall  acconiplijb  that 
which  I  pleafe,  and  it  Jhall  profper  in  the  Thing  whereto 
I  fent  it.  For  ye  Jhall  go  out  with  Joy,  and  be  led  forth 
with  Peace :  the  Mountains  and  the  Hills  fJmll  break  forth 
before  you  into  fmging,  and  all  the  Trees  of  the  Field  Jhall 
clap  their  H  nds.  Inftead  of  the  Thorn  Jhall  come  up  the 
Fr-tree,  and  Inftead  of  the  Brier  Jhall  come  up  the  Myrtle* 
tree :  and  it  Jhall  be  to  the  LORD  for  a  Name,  for  an  ever- 
lafting  Sign,  that  Jhall  not  be  cut  off.  Anon,  the  Refur- 
reftion  from  the  dead  (hall  compleat  the  Joy.  J  In  the 
Wildernefs  Jhall  Waters  break  out,  and  Streams  in  the 
De/ert.  And  the  parched  Ground  Jhall  become  a  Pool,  and 
the  thirjiy  Land  Springs  of  Wafer  :  In  the  Habitation  of 
Dragons,  where  each  lay,  Jhall  be  Grafs  with  Reeds  and 

Rujhes. No  Lion  Jhall  be  there,  nor  any  ravenous 

T>eajl  JJyall  go  up  thereon,  it  fh all  not  be  found  there :  but 
the  redeemed  Jhall  walk  there.  And  the  ranfomed  of  the 
LORD  /hall  return  and  come  to  Zion  with  Songs  and  ever- 
la fling  %oy  upon  their  Heads  :  they  Jhall  obtain  $oy  and 
Gladnefs,  and  Sorrow  and  Sighing  Jhall  fee  away.  •  •  •  • 
§  The  Lamb  who  is  in  the  Mid/I  of  the  Throne,  Jhall  feed 
them,  ami  Jhall  lead  them  to  living  Fountains  of  Waters  : 
and  God  Jhall  wipe  away  all  Tears  from  their  Eyes. 

AMEN. 

*  Cant.  ii.  8,  9.         f  Ifai.  Iv.   10—13.         f  Ifai.  xxxv.  6.    • 
§  Rev.  vii.  17. 


An  HYMN  for  the  SPRING. 

The  BLOOM  of  LIFE  fading  in  a  happy  DEATH. 

I. 

f^\  RE  AT  GOD,  how  frail  a  Thing  is  Man 
VJ    How  fwift  his  Minutes  pafs ! 
His   Age    contracts  within    a   Span  j 
He  blooms  and  dies  like  Grafs. 

IT. 
Now  in  his  Bread  frefh  Spirits  dart, 

And  vital   Vigour  reigns  : 
His  Blood  pours   rapid  from  his  Heart,, 
And  leaps  along  his  Veins. 

III. 
His  Eyes  their  fparkling  Pleafure  fpeak, 

Joy  flutters  round   his  Head  ; 
While  Health  ftill  bloffoms  on  his  Cheek, 
And  adds   the  rofey  Red. 

IV. 
Thus  the  fond  Youth   fecurely  ftands, 

Nor  dreams  of  a  Decay  • 

At  once  he  feels  Death's  Iron  Hands* 
His  Soul  is  fnatchM  away. 

V. 
Down  to  the  Earth  the  Body  drop?, 

Whence  it  was   fram'd  at  firft, 
Forgets  it's  former  flatt'ring  Hopes, 
And  haftens   to  it's  Daft. 

VI. 
No  more  we  view  the  wonted  Grace; 

The  Eye-bails  roll  no  more  : 
A  livid  Horfour   fpreads  the  Face 
Where  Beauty  bbz'd  before. 

'VII. 
So  the  young  Spring,  with  annual  Greefi; 

Renews  the   waving,  Grove  ; 
And  Riv'lets  through  the  flow'ry  Scene 
In  Silver  Mazes  rove. 


VIII. 

By  tuneful  Birds  of  ev'ry  Plume, 

Melodious  Strains  are  play'd ; 
From  Tree  to  Tree  their  Accents  roam 

Soft-warbling  thro'  the  Shade. 

IX. 
The  painted  Meads,  and  fragrant  Fields* 

A  fudden  Smile  beftow : 
A  golden   Gleam  each  Valley  guilds* 

Where  numerous  Beauties  blow. 

X. 
A  ^.oufand  gaudy  Colours  flulh 

Eih  od'rous  Mountain's  Side: 
Lilli'i  rife  fair,   and   Rofes  blufh, 

And  Tulips  fpread  their  Pride. 

XL 
Thus   flouriflies  the  wanton  Year* 

In  rich   Profufioft   gay, 
'Till  Autumn  bids  the  Bloom  retire* 

The  Verdure  fade  away. 

XII. 
Succeeding  Cold   withers  the  Woods* 

While  hoary  Winter  reigns, 
In  Fetters  binds  the  frozen  Floods, 

And  Clivers  o'er  the  Plains. 

XIIL  * 
And  muft  my  Moments  thus  decline  ? 

And  muft  I  fmk  to  Death  ? 
To   Thee   my   Spirit    I    fefign, 

Thou  SOV'REIGN  of  my  Breath. 

XIV. 
%ESUS    my  Life,  has  dy'd*  has  rofe: 

I  burn  to  meet  his  Charms ! 
Welcome  the  Pangs,  the  dying  Throes, 

That  give  me  to  his 


S. 


Ml80584: 


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